Jenna Talackova, seen here in her Grade 8 Killarney secondary yearbook photo, went by the name Page Talacko at the time.Handout
/ Submitted

Transgender Miss Universe contestant Jenna Talackova appeared on The View on Monday, April 9, 2012 to talk about the controversy surrounding her being bounced from the beauty pageant, then readmitted.Screen
/ grab

Jenna Talackova, a would be Miss Universe contestant, attends a news conference with her attorney Gloria Allred on April 3, 2012 in Los Angeles, California, Talackova, 23, was disqualified as a finalist from the upcoming Miss Universe Canada last month because she was born male. The Miss Universe Organization reversed their decision April 2, 2012, allowing a transgender contestant to compete as long as they meet the legal Canadian gender recognition requirements and standards that are established by other competitions held internationally.Kevork Djansezian
/ Getty Images

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova, 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova, 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini as she leaves the stage in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova, 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition wearing her evening gown in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova (L) takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova (C) takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition wearing her evening gown in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova (2nd R) takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition while wearing her bikini in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova, 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition wearing her evening gown in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova (2nd R) takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition wearing her evening gown in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Transgendered contestant Jenna Talackova takes part in Miss Universe Canada competition wearing her evening gown in Toronto May 17, 2012. Talackova was originally disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a "naturally born female". Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was then reinstated to the Canadian competition last by businessman Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization.REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Heading up to the rooftop patio of a West End apartment building Saturday to talk to The Sun about her tough upbringing, “wild child” teen years and current role as Pride Parade grand marshal, she has appearance on her mind.

Talackova, 23, has just returned from a whirlwind trip to Toronto, where she filmed the pilot for her coming reality television show.

“The Jenna Talackova Project,” she says, looking out across a 14th-floor vista encompassing English Bay and downtown Vancouver. “It’ll just be me doing day-to-day stuff, judging a pageant, going to Mexico, you know.”

Aside from a new agent and a manager, Talackova’s learning the celebrity trade from an acting coach. Soon she’ll be flying to New York City to promote high-end shoes, like the nude pumps on her feet, in a Stuart Weitzman commercial directed, her publicist says, by James Franco.

Her new jet-setting lifestyle almost makes her role as grand marshal at the Aug. 5 Vancouver Pride Parade seem tame.

Before that gig is her appearance alongside Mayor Gregor Robertson Saturday evening at the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks display.

Less than a year ago, the would-be model-actress was in a very different headspace.

“I was seeing psychics ... because I was kind of depressed with my life,” she said.

Since then, she’s been booted out of and subsequently reinstated in the Miss Universe Canada pageant, changing the rules in the process and making headlines around the world to become an icon for the transgender community.

“I feel so blessed, I can’t even believe what’s happening in my life right now,” she says.

Talackova had been disqualified in March for not being a “naturally born female.”

But the leggy blond, who had sex-reassignment surgery at 19, refused to back down. She sought legal counsel and argued the controversial decision constituted discrimination.

In a surprise reversal, the Miss Universe Organization, owned by Donald Trump, not only re-entered her; it allowed all transgender women to compete in its worldwide competition, modelling its rules after the Olympic system.

The response wasn’t all positive, however. Talackova recalls some blowback from feminist groups opposed to the beauty pageant concept, which they say reinforces outmoded gender roles and objectification of women.

“Some of us like Miss Universe pageants, some of us don’t,” Talackova says. “Those people that don’t want to don’t have to compete.

“It’s all fake, anyway, the hair extensions and that, but it’s fun. You only live once, why not have fun with it?”

It’s been a long journey for Talackova, born with the given name Walter and raised on the southeastern edge of Vancouver.

The baby of the family, Talackova grew up in a single-parent household with three half-brothers.

Talackova says she was an engaged, athletic child, but rejected “boys’” activities and played feminine make-believe, Sailor Moon wand in hand, at every chance.

“I did dance, I did drama. As you can see, I’m kind of a drama queen.”

She bounced around high schools, attending Windermere, Killarney and South Hill before graduating a year behind her class.

“I was kind of a wild child in high school. I went out a lot, I was kind of a social butterfly, and I was always getting into trouble.

“My math teacher – because I hated math – would hold my purse when I’d go to the bathroom just to make sure I’d come back,” she says.

Looking back, Talackova says the incongruity between her appearance and what she calls her “essence” contributed to her restless behaviour.

“My physical body wasn’t matching what was going on inside this whole little world .... In my head I have always been a female,” she says. “I knew from a very young age.”

Talackova began taking estrogen pills at 14 to counteract her body’s development.

“My mom didn’t understand. So I stayed with my dad for a month just to prove that this was how it was going to be.”

She says the experience eventually gave her family a more open-minded outlook, but believes more support for next-of-kin would ease the transition process, which is otherwise covered financially under the health care system.

The operation itself Talackova had at 19, travelling to Montreal to go under the knife of a renowned sex-reassignment surgeon.

“It feels like such a numb, horrific feeling,” Talackova says, recalling the after-effects. “It’s extremely painful and sore and you can’t walk. You faint a lot.”

She says enduring the ordeal, which involved staying at a housing centre with other people undergoing sex reassignment, bonded her with new friends and strengthened her identity.

Talackova, a status native whose mother hails from the Lake Babine Nation near Burns Lake, says she draws on her aboriginal heritage for her sense of self.

“I always pray to the Creator every night for the last seven years, even if it’s a quick one. I give my gratitude and try to stay grounded,” she says. “And that has a lot to do with the native traditions.”

Now a role model herself, Talackova looked to Harisu, a transgender South Korean pop superstar, when she was growing up.

“I was always so inspired by her. And now that I’ve been given this platform, it’s my obligation to get that awareness out there,” she says.

In order to transmit awareness of transgender issues, Talackova continues to take advantage of social media, using it to promote LGBT causes and encourage those struggling with their identities or sexual transitions.

“My Twitter account, my Facebook, my fan page,” she says. “You live this life once, I always tell them, and if you’re not living it happy you’re not serving yourself and you’re not serving your family or the people around you by being miserable.”

Talackova also looks to her boyfriend, whom she conscientiously keeps out of the limelight, for support.

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